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Southampton Boss Claims Virgil van Dijk Is '100% Focused' Ahead of Liverpool Clash

Defender Virgil van Dijk will be 100% focused ahead of Southampton's trip to Liverpool on Saturday, according to manager Mauricio Pellegrino.

Southampton centre back Van Dijk was the subject of a long-running transfer saga during the summer, as Liverpool looked to secure the Dutchman's services to shore up their back line.

Van Dijk made it clear that he wanted the move to go ahead and even handed in a transfer request, but a complaint from Southampton over Liverpool's courtship led to Liverpool (at least publicly) ending their interest and issuing an apology for "any misunderstanding".

After the unsettling saga, van Dijk was absent from Southampton's opening four Premier League games of the season, before returning in the 1-0 win at Crystal Palace.